Code-sign translator



-B. MORA- CODE SIGN TRANSLATOR. 'APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1921.

1 Patented Oct. 241, 1922.

fpatented Get. 2 1922.

his

BERNHARI) MORA, 0F LUBEGK, GERMANY.

CODE-SIGN TRANSIiATOR.

Application filed May 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNHARD MORA, a citizen of Germany, and residing at Lubeok, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Code-Sign Trans lators (for which I have filed application in Germany May 5, 1920), of which the following is a specification. i

-This invention relates to a device for translating code signs or signals into ordinary print, and one of its chief objects is to facilitate signaling with flashes of light sent out from a signaling station in accordance with any concerted code.

The device may be used either in receiving'or sending signals. A person who is not very well skilled in code signaling is enabled to translate the code flash signals he perceives into ordinary print by simply working the key or keys of the device.- l/Vhen the device is to be used for sending it is combined with a flash signal arrangement. The code flash signals sent with it are translated into, and recorded in, ordinary print.

The principal characteristics of the device are that a typewheel is set by the aid of a key-or keys, and that one and the same key produces different movements of the typewheel according as it is worked or depressed 'one'or a number of times in succession, or

alternatively with another key.

Two keys may be employed, one being used for dots and theother for dashes. By the different effects produced on the type wheel by the keys, a different total rotary movement of wheel may be obtained for each sign in the signalling code used, and whenever the wheel has been caused to execute a rotary movement corresponding to a code sign it may be restored to its normal position by a special restoring means. The means for controlling the movement of the keys preferably comprises a shifting menu ber such as a bar with a number of stops adapted to be brought into the path of movement of the keys, and to alter the extent to which they can be moved or depressed. The stop bar is shifted a certain distance each time a said key is workedand difierent stops enabling the keys to be depressed to different extents are thus brought into position. It is. thus rendered possible to turn a different type or point of the periphery of the type-wheel into the printing position for each code sign firstly, by varying the lengths of the strokes of keys, and

1921. Serial No. 467,697.

secondly by the summation of the individual rotary movements imparted to the typewheel by the various key depressions executed in producing each code sign.

The invention is illustrated in the drawmg in which the translating device only is shown, whilst the flash signalling arrangement, which is provided if the device is used both for sending and receiving, is omitted.

F 1g. 1 is an elevation of the internal working parts of the translating device and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.

The device may be provided with three keys 6, f and u, the key e being depressed once for each dot, 7" once for each dash and a being the release key that is depressed at the end of each series of dots, dashes. or dots and dashes, that represents a code sign. The keys 6' and 7" are each provided with a tappet g and it respectively which swing down the one arm of a bell crank lever 22 when a key c or f is depressed. The lever b is loosely mounted on the shaft of the typewheel a which is provided with a ratchet wheel engaged by an angular pawl c that is pivoted on the lever b and is normally kept in engagement with the ratchet by a spring. A detent holds the ratchet wheel in whatever position it is turned into. lVhen the detent z is raised the ratchet wheel is rotated back into its normal position by a spring that always tends to turn the wheel into its normal position. Associated with the bell. crank or typewheel setting lever b is a spring (not shown) which always swings the lever back against the stop (Z immediately it is relieved of the pressure of a tappet g or it. The setting lever has another pawl i linked to it, which engages with a ratchet on a shifting stop bar is. This bar has a number of stops 7, 9, 15, 11., l8, l6, 9, 12, 10 of different heights adapted to cooperate with the stop pins Z, m of the keys 0 and f. The stop bar is detained by a detent m in the positions into which it is stepped by the pawl i, and when the detent m is raised off its rack the bar is is pushed back into its initial position by a spring. The detent m raised as described whenever the restoring key itmoves upward after it has been depressed for. the purpose of restoring the typewheel to its normal position. The pawl i has a slot in which a pin 7b is arranged to move that is fixed to the lever Z.

The device operates in the following manner: On a key 6 or 7 being depressed in response to a dash or dot (or a long or short flash of light, or wave of a flag) the setting lever, by virtue of the pawl 0, turns the typewheel round. At the'same time the stop bar is is shifted on one step by the pawl 2' and thus certain steps are brought into line with the pins Z and m of the keys, these steps determining the amount of downward travel of the keys and therefore also the amount of rotation imparted by the latter to the typewheel. The second depression of a key results in the stop bar in being shifted on another step so as to bring other stops into line with the striking pins Z, m and to redetermine theamount of downward movement of the keys and of rotary movement imparted to the typewheel. By a suitable combination of stops on the stop bar 70 it is possible to obtain a different amount of rotation of the typewheel, or to cause a dif ferent type to be turned into the printing position, for each code sign in accordance with which the keys 6 and f are depressed.

The arintin device is arran ed at the bottom of the typewheel.

After the keys 6 and 7- have been worked in accordance with a code sign or signal the restoring key .a is depressed which results,

in the rocking of a two-armed lever 0 whose left end presses the paper strip holder 8 against the ink ribbon g and the typewheel, thus causing the selected type to be printed. When the restoring key it returns to its nc-rmal position it disengages the detcnt from the typewheel ratchet thus causing the type wheel to'return to its normal position. At the same time the restoring key a lifts-a bar that is linked to the stop bar detent m and thus allows the stop bar 71; to be restored to normal. At each deflection of the bell crank lever 79 the stepping pawl 2' is first moved forward and then lifted when the pin a strikes against the upper edge of the slot in the pawl 2'.

If the device is to be used for transmitting signals, suitable contacts are associated with the keys and a battery and a lamp are provided for giving the long and short flashes that represent dashes'and dots.

I have found that the best arrangement of types on the typewheel and the best combi nationof stops on the stop bar is that with which theiirst, second, third and fourth depression of the key a produce rotations of the typewheel corresponding to seven teeth each, the fifth depression of'e rotates the wheel by 16 teeth, and the sixthdepression rotates the wheel by 12 teeth, and with which the first depression of ,1 produces a rotation of the typewheel corresponding to 9 teeth, the second depression causes the wheel to rotate by 15, the third by 11, the fourth by 18, the fifth by 9, and the sixth depression of j rotates the wheel by 16 teeth.

I do not desire to belimited tothe specific forms of device described above asit is ob vious that many changes may be made without'depa'rting from the scope of the inven' tion. For example it is not necessary to rotate "the typewheel by the direct action of the keys 6 and. f. These could be made to control a powermember or members that act upon the bell lever b or the typewheel.

I claim;

1. A code signal translator comprising, a typewheel, means for imparting cumulative movements to the said typewheel, and means for-.clifferentiating the amounts of successive cumulative movements imparted by the said typewheel moving means.

2. A code signal translator comprising, a typewheel, means for imparting cumulative movements to the said typewheel, and move ment varying means for automatically differentiating the amounts of successive cumulative movements imparted by the said typewheel moving means. 7

3. The code signal translator comprising, a typewheel, manually-operated typewheel setting members, means for eumulating successive' setting movements of the typewheel, and means for differentiating the amounts of successive cumulative movements of the typewheel.

4. A code signal translator comprising, a primary typewheel -sett-ing member corresponding to short signs of a signalling code, a secondary typewheel-setting member corresponding to long signs of a code, means for cumulating successive setting movements imparted to the typewheel, and means'for differentiating the amounts of successive movements of the typewheel.

5. A code signal translator comprising, a

typewheel, keys for imparting movements to the said typewheel, means for cumulatmg successive movements of the typewheel,

- a stop bar with stops for differentiating the amounts of successive movements of the said keys and the said typewheel, and means for automatically shifting the stop bar at each operation of a said key.

'6. A code signal translatorcomprising, a shaft, a typewheel on the said shaft, a rocking arm on the shaft, a ratchet on the typewheel, a pawl on the rocking arm for rotating the typewheel through the said ratchet, keys, tappets on the keys adapted to engage and swing round the rocking arm and rotate the typewheel, a stop-bar with stops of different sizes forlimiting the movements of the said keys, a ratchet on the stop bar, and a pawl pivot-ed on the rocking arm and adapted to engage with the ratchet on the stop bar and tostep the bar forward at each swing of the rocking arm.

'2. A code signal translator comprising, a

shaft, a typewheel on the said shaft, a rocking arm on the shaft, a ratchet on the typeheel, a pawl on the rocking arm for r0, tating the typewheel through the said ratchet, keys, tappets on the keys adapted to engage and swing round the rocking arm and rotate the typewheel, a stop bar with stops of different sizes for limiting the movements of the said keys, a ratchet on the stop bar, a pawl pivoted on the rocking arm and adapted to engage with the ratchet on the stop bar and to step the bar forward at each swing of the rocking arm, means for holding the typewheel and stop bar in an advanced position, and means for restoring the typewheel and the stop bar into their normal positions.

8. A code signal translator comprising, a shaft, a typewheel on the said shaft, a rocking arm on the shaft, a ratchet on the typewheel, a pawl on the rocking arm for rotating the typewheel through the said ratchet, keys, tappets on the keys adapted to engage and swing round the rocking arm and rotate the typewheel, a stop bar with stops of difierent sizes for limiting the movements of the said keys, a ratchet on the stop bar, a pawl pivoted on the rocking arm and adapted to engage with the ratchet on the stop bar and to step the bar forward at each swing of the rocking arm, contacts associated with the said keys, and a'flash light arrangement controlled by the said contacts.

9. A code signal translator comprising, a typewheel, a member for rotating the said typewheel, keys for operating the said type- Wheel rotating member, and means for differentiating the amounts of successive rotary movements imparted to the typewheel by means of the said typewheel rotating member and the said keys.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

BERNHARD MOR-A. Witnesses: v NICOLAI STEINBACI-I, KURT LIC'HTENSTEIN. 

